A recent post included questions on how the Valeo works. This info is directly from Dean Batchelor's book: "Illustrated Buyer's Guide: Ferrari"

Valeo is a French clutch manufacturer that produced a system with no clutch pedal but whose clutch was operated by an electro-mechanical actuator (ECM).

This Valeo system can engage and disengage the clutch in 0.02 seconds! Originated for the Lancia rally team, this clutch allowed the drivers to use one foot on the brake and the other on the gas at all times, and it contributed greatly to Lancia's back-to-back world rally championships.

The ECM operated like a manual transmission:Lift off the gas, move the gear shift lever by hand, get back down on the gas, and the clutching was handled without footwork.

Cool or what?? and BTW less than 30 Valeos were US imported: all were convertibles. 8)

Cool or what?? and BTW less than 30 Valeos were US imported: all were convertibles. 8)

The reason that no Valeo coupes were brought it is because the only year that Ferrari made Mondial T coupes for the US market was 1989. For each of the other years (through 1994) they only brought in the cabriolets. Supposedly, there are a few Mondial T Coupes with the Valeo in Europe which received Mondial T coupes all the way through production.

Personally, I like the Mondial 3.2 the best but the Valeo mechanism is just plain cool. Supposedly the electronic activators (the Valeo gear itself) are very trouble free but I would be a little afraid of the cost and complications to fix when something goes wrong.

A very cool piece of engineering it definitely is, and undoubtedly it has it's applications, but you won't convince me that it's better than 'stick shifting' a Ferrari on an open highway with that Italian orchestra in full song behind your right ear, and you conducting the ensemble.

Stick shifting definitely feels good, but with the Valeo you are still in complete control!
Note how fast the mechanism shifts: this gear change would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, with even a "short-throw" stick. 8)

This is the best exchange and true info I've seen to date on the valeo! I say that because I own one and have enjoyed driving it for 12 years. It's true purpose is often misunderstood. It is a blast to drive. :lol:

So what tells the clutch to dissengage? does it dissengage automaticaly when you lift off the accelerator? that seems liek the most logical way to me. Also does this system have the tendancy to overheat the clutch in stop and go traffic like the F1 trans is said to do?